WE all strive for the better things in life. There is nothing wrong with such a maxim.

Indeed, we wouldn’t have the work ethic or ambition to do well without it.

Money features strongly in all aspects of life, but is not necessarily the driving force. As if a few thousand pounds changes something inherent in our character or personality.

Unfortunately, sometimes it does. Take some of our MPs and those who benefited from the recession in the financial sector.

Being rich might drive us out of a life or existence where choices are limited, but the pressure to maintain a status is great as is the leap and fall. Far better to be content in mind, even if having less denies us material gain.

How often do we see those who are affluent hunger for more? So the notion that being rich somehow makes us better is flawed. There are exceptions of course – the many who donate some of their riches to good causes.

But those with a self-fulfilling philosophy that they must have – at all or any cost – deny or deprive someone else and in so doing devalue quality of life.

Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe, Durham.